Property taxes across Scotland have climbed to £686.5m over the past year, marking a huge 17.6% jump from the previous 12 months, research revels. DJ Alexander Ltd, a lettings and property firm, highlights that revenues from the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) soared by £102.8m compared to the £583.7m collected between March 2023 and […]

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has revealed that it has expelled four property businesses for neglecting to compensate consumers. The action involves three letting agencies and one residential leasehold management (RLM) firm, underscoring the regulator’s commitment to protecting tenants and landlords alike. The TPO, known for providing an unbiased dispute resolution service, saw a reduction in […]

Shawbrook has introduced a fresh approach to fixed-rate renewals with its new product transfers, designed to benefit existing customers holding buy to let and commercial mortgages. The service enables clients to adjust their fixed rate without needing extra funds or extended terms, streamlining the process in four steps. Brokers and their landlord clients can now […]

My partner owns the freehold of a flat. He lived in the flat himself for about 2 years and has since moved out and now it is rented out to tenants. There are 10 flats in the block and each flat owner also owns 10% of the freehold management company. Two of the other flats […]

The surge in landlords and property investors opting to use a limited company for their operations is down to shifting regulations and long-term wealth planning, one bank says. Arbuthnot Latham, a private and commercial bank, has analysed Companies House records to find a 46% annual increase in new property enterprises in 2024. That was the […]

The government’s ambition to tackle the housing shortage is facing a setback, as fresh statistics highlight that it will fail to deliver the number of homes needed to meet its ambitious target in England. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has championed a scheme to build 1.5 million homes by 2029 in a bid to address […]

Private landlords in one city say they are grappling with an unnecessarily arduous system for renewing their House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licences. The group warns that, unlike other councils, Portsmouth City Council has failed to simplify the procedure, leaving landlords frustrated by lengthy forms, higher costs and a process that might flout legal guidelines. […]

To help private rented sector landlords meet the upcoming tightening energy performance certificate changes, the Energy Saving Trust has published a guide. By 2030, ‘it is proposed, but not yet passed into law and under consultation,’ that all rental properties in England and Wales must achieve an EPC rating of C or higher, a move […]

A survey has found that 56% of people in Britain have doubts about the safety of high-rise homes that they live in. The findings from SFG20, the industry standard for building maintenance, also found that another 42% believe local councils must urgently address these issues. The anxiety follows attention on the government after the Grenfell […]

For many of us, the private rented sector has turned into a battlefield, and at the heart of the latest skirmish is the issue of guarantors – or rather, the call for no tenant to need one. We have seen 28 organisations, including Shelter, Generation Rent, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the renters’ union Acorn, […]

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) could deduct money from benefit claimants’ payments if they owe money to their landlords. In a committee meeting on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery Bill), Labour Minister Andrew Western reveals that up to 40% of benefits could be deducted to settle arrears owed to landlords, utility […]

The Labour government will force landlords to use the Making Tax Digital (MTD) scheme for income tax self-assessment or face fines if they fail to pay on time. The controversial scheme will lower the qualifying income threshold for MTD to £20,000 from April 2028, forcing more landlords with modest rental income to keep digital records […]

Letting agents and landlords could unlock annual savings of £3.4 billion by carrying out inspections every THREE months, one firm says. The study from Inventory Base says this strategy will act as a vital shield, catching small problems before they balloon into hefty bills or regulatory violations. It will also, they claim, boost an agent’s […]

Rents are climbing and buy to let company formations are reaching unprecedented levels, one buy to let index reveals. The platform GetGround has analysed its data to offer a snapshot that points to a thriving yet evolving market. It says that in the 12 months to January 2025, rents grew by 8.7%, marking the sharpest […]

One in five renters are taking out loans to help pay for their five-week cash deposit when moving into a new home, research reveals. The findings from Reposit show that 6% of tenants have taken out £1,500 or more, while 18% secured sums between £1,000 and £1,500. A further 24% accessed amounts ranging from £500 […]

London’s rental sector is displaying resilience with consistent tenant demand, robust supply and a notable increase in tenants securing homes, according to fresh insights from Foxtons and Chestertons. With average weekly rents climbing slightly to £557 and a 30% surge in renters moving in February, the capital’s lettings landscape remains a dynamic hub for both […]

Ah, the joys of the British legal system — a place where logic takes a back seat, and bureaucratic chaos reigns supreme. If you thought following the law would lead to a smooth resolution, allow me to disabuse you of such optimism. Let me walk you through my latest adventure in the court system, where […]

The Flat Rate VAT Scheme (FRS) is a simplified option for paying VAT for businesses with lower turnover. At an annual turnover of £90k of vatable supplies, a business must become VAT registered and pay VAT on sales. Businesses with a gross turnover of less than £180k can opt for the FRS. The FRS rate […]

Landbay, United Trust Bank (UTB) Mortgages, Molo Finance, and CHL Mortgages for Intermediaries are rolling out reductions and partnerships to bolster affordability and choice for landlords. Landbay has trimmed rates by 0.10% on its limited edition small HMO (Houses in Multiple Occupation) and MUFB (Multi-Unit Freehold Block) offerings. Five-year fixed rates now begin at 4.99% […]

The Scottish Conservatives blast the SNP for failing to remove dangerous cladding from buildings in Scotland. The SNP recently announced a £10 million fund to assess cladding on buildings, with funding available regardless of whether the property is privately owned or social housing. An extension of this scheme is also planned to support mitigation and […]

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is calling on landlords to join its HSE residents panel to improve safety in high-rise buildings. The HSE say landlords play a key role in helping residents feel safe and improve communication around building safety. The HSE are seeking applications from private landlords who currently let units in high-rise […]